To Win
Man City 14/10
Draw 23/10
Man United 17/10
Manchester Derby
The first Manchester derby of the season will be at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing as United and City line up against each other in the International Champions Cup.
It has taken four years for it to happen, but Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are in the same league again and are managing two of the fiercest rivals of the league, again.
Both Manchester City and Manchester United are expected to mount a serious title challenge under their new managers and with the passion that Pep and Mourinho bring along with them, we should have a fascinating show on our hands.
There will be nothing friendly about these two clubs, and both managers will be determined to make it a memorable occasion for the club’s fans. History will be made, as it is the first Manchester derby to be played outside of England!
Manchester City
Guardiola begins his tenure as City manager by leading his men out against top European opposition before the Premier League kicks off on August 13. After facing former club Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday, City jet off to China to face Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund (28th July). They finish their tour with a match against Arsenal (7th August). This pre-season may be one of the most important Guardiola has ever presided over and these games will surely go a long way in helping the 45-year-old shape the team in his image.
Although a game and a tournament of little consequence, both Mourinho and Guardiola will be under intense pressure to win this game and we can be sure that neither will be taking it lightly. It will be the start of a new chapter in their long rivalry and both will be well aware of the psychological edge a victory would give one over the other.
Won five, drawn four, lost two. Guardiola has a pretty conclusive head-to-head record against Mourinho. If Guardiola wins five and loses two of the next 11 derbies, and also wins more trophies than the Red Devils, he will be a Blue legend for eternity! Even though the two men have been transplanted to Manchester, all is not forgotten and both managers will be hoping to come out on top.
Manchester City have been desperately trying to bring in new recruits. Guardiola has brought in midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and forward Nolito while negotiations for John Stones and Leroy Sane are ongoing, according to reports. Nolito is in contention to make his debut while many of City’s stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are set to return and boost Guardiola’s side.
Manchester United
Manchester United had confirmed in May that Mourinho will be their new manager as the Portuguese tactician replaced Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. The 53-year-old officially took charge in July and started working with his players. Mourinho helped United sign Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan while various reports suggest Paul Pogba could be the next star added to that list.
The Mourinho era at United began with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wigan last Saturday, with goals from Will Keane and Andreas Pereira, while Mkhitaryan impressed on debut. Whilst acknowledging a lack of match sharpness and conditioning within his squad, Mourinho was full of praise for his players’ evident efforts to implement the new principles he’s brought to United. The ‘Special One’ will be hoping for another positive performance from his players as they lock horns with Guardiola’s City.
Having won just three of the 18 matches he’s locked horns with Guardiola, Mourinho has a win percentage of just 18.8% and will be hoping for a change of fortunes this coming season. Although Guardiola boasts a better head-to-head record, Mourinho has the edge in terms of titles won, having enjoyed eight championship successes, two more than his long-time rival.
Mourinho has confirmed that several of United’s biggest stars will not take part in the pre-season tour of China as they need extra recovery time due to international duty. The majority of the first-team squad took part in either the Copa America or Euro 2016, and the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Anthony Martial, David de Gea, Wayne Rooney, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ibrahimovic are expected to miss the tour which will hamper United’s chances.
Prediction: Manchester City (14/10)
Despite this being a friendly match, neither side will want to lose and both managers will be going all out to ensure they come out on top. However, United are not at full strength with several of their first-team regulars still on holiday, while City have called their first-team players early. A tight affair is expected but Guardiola’s side are tipped to oust their rivals.
Chadley Nagel
